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Terminology Services

Exploring Estuaries Glossary

Description:

Technical terms related to estuaries

Publishing Organization:

Office of Water/Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds

Last Update:

April 9, 2007

Program Site:

https://www.epa.gov/nep

Terms & Acronyms

	Term
	Algae	Definition: Plants without roots that grow in estuaries and "feed" on nutrients (such as nitrogen and phosphorus) in the water.
	Algae Blooms	Definition: Occurs when algae grows very fast because too many nutrients enter the water. Algae blooms color the water a deep red-brown.
	Barrier Island	Definition: Refers to a long, narrow island running parallel to the mainland, built up by waves and currents and protecting the coast from erosion by surf and tidal surges.
	DDT	Definition: A group of colorless chemicals, no longer made today, that was used to kill insects. DDT is toxic to people and animals when swallowed or absorbed through the skin.
	Drought	Definition: A period without rain that can damage crops such as wheat and corn.
	Ecosystem	Definition: A community of plants and animals, like a neighborhood.
	Endangered Species	Definition: A plant or animal that is in immediate danger of becoming extinct and needs protection to survive.
	Erosion	Definition: The process where soil and other matter are worn away by rain, stream currents, and wind.
	Estuary	Definition: A partially closed coastal body of water where freshwater and saltwater mix.
	Fertilizers	Definition: Substances, such as chemicals or animal manure, used to provide nutrients to help plants grow. Many people use fertilizers on their lawns and gardens.
	Fish Kills	Definition: Refers to large numbers of fish being killed, usually because there is not enough oxygen in the water or because of a chemical spill.
	Fisheries	Definition: A place where large numbers of fish are caught.
	Food Chain	Definition: The relationship between who eats whom among plants and animals.
	Freshwater	Definition: Refers to water from rivers, lakes, reservoirs, underground streams, and other sources. Water is continually lifted from the oceans by evaporation and then returned to the land as ice, snow, or rain. Ice and snow melt from mountains to release freshwater to our rivers, streams, lakes, and to resupply underground streams.
	Habitat	Definition: The place in which a plant or animal normally lives.
	Heavy Metals	Definition: A group of highly toxic metals that are generally harmful to plants and animals.
	Hypoxia	Definition: A condition where there isn't enough oxygen in the water. This forces fish to either swim away or die and can suffocate plants living in the water. Hypoxia occurs when there are too many nutrients in the water.
	Nonpoint Source	Definition: Refers to pollution that enters estuaries from many places, such as when rainwater washes over parking lots, lawns, or farms and brings pollutants from all these sources into the estuary.
	Nutria	Definition: Animals with reddish brown and black fur, webbed feet, orange front teeth that stick out, and long tails. Nutria live throughout Louisiana in coastal swamps, brackish marshes, ponds, streams, rivers, and lakes. They eat plants and grass and can grow up to 4 feet long.
	Nutrients	Definition: Refers to the "food" that plants need in order to grow. Examples include nitrogen and phosphorus. Too many nutrients in the water can cause problems in an estuary, such as hypoxia.
	Pathogens	Definition: Tiny disease-causing microorganisms such as viruses, fungi, and bacteria.
	Pesticides	Definition: Chemicals used to destroy or control plant, fungus, or animal pests.
	Point Source	Definition: Refers to pollution that enters estuaries from a single point, such as a factory pipe.
	Reefs	Definition: Skeleton-like ecosystems made up of colonies of limestone-producing, living animals. Coral reefs tell us about water quality and the health of an estuary.
	Runoff	Definition: Water that flows across the surface of the land and empties into a body of water.
	Seawater	Definition: Water that comes from the ocean and is very salty.
	Sediment	Definition: Mud, sand, silt, clay, shell debris, and other particles that settle on the bottom of rivers, lakes, estuaries, and oceans. Sedimentation refers to the build up of sediment.
	Septic Systems	Definition: Systems that carry wastewater away from our homes when we turn on a faucet or flush a toilet.
	Sewage	Definition: The wastewater generated by people in homes and businesses.
	Sewage Treatment Plants	Definition: Places where wastewater is treated with chemicals and bacteria to produce clean water that can be returned to rivers and other waterways.
	Shellfish	Definition: An animal such as a mollusk (clams, oysters, and snails) or crustacean (crabs and shrimp) that have a shell or shell-like external skeleton.
	Stormwater	Definition: Refers to rainwater as well as water from washing cars, overwatering lawns, and other sources. Stromwater washes down storm drains on the curbs of roads and leads directly into lakes, rivers, and streams untreated. Stormwater can carry pollution directly into our natural water resources.
	Threatened Species	Definition: A plant or animal that is likely to become endangered if not protected.
	Tides	Definition: The rise and fall of ocean waters produced by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun.
	Watershed	Definition: The area of land that drains into a particular body of water.

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